PHILADELPHIA – Following a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Georgetown track & field team returned to Penn Relays with a strong start to the three-day meet. The Hoyas looked right at home at Franklin Field starting with the women's 400-meter hurdles through the last event on Distance Night in front of a crowd of 20,176 fans.
ON THE RECORD
"We've had a good start to our weekend with great finishes on Distance Night, highlighted by finishes in the men's 10K by
Andrew Jordan (3rd) and
Owen Ritz (4th) that should place them in the NCAA East Preliminary. On the women's side, Newton got us started with a good showing in the 400-meter hurdles to finish second in her heat.
Chloe Scrimgeour also had a big PR to finish sixth overall in the 5K. We're excited to get our relays under way on Friday and have our jumpers get on the runway.."
- Director of Track & Field / Cross Country
Alton McKenzie
HOYA HIGHLIGHTS
- To close the night, two Hoyas competed in the men's 10,000-meter run. Both part of a strong lead pack that helped each other through the race, Andrew Jordan and Owen Ritz finished third (29:04.76) and fourth (29:12.68), respectively, in a dramatic race. Jordan held the lead late but couldn't hold on through the final two laps. With two runners among the top eight, Georgetown was joined by only Villanova to achieve that feat. Stony Brook's Evan Brennan won the race and was the lone competitor to break 29 minutes.
- A slew of Hoyas were in the men's 5,000-meter run as Matthew Young was the top finisher of five Hoyas in the field and a pair among the top 10. Young crossed the finish line with a time of 13:53.63, making a big move earlier in the race to ensure his positioning. He closed strong to take fourth overall in his heat and the race. Sean Laidlaw finished 10th, also competing in the fast first heat with a time of 13:58.16.
- In her first collegiate 5,000-meter run, Chloe Scrimgeour crushed her previous best prior to Georgetown and ran 16:10.12 to finish sixth in her heat and the event. Running in eighth place about halfway through, she was able to pick off a pair of runners over the final four laps.
- Scott Johnson was able to run a personal-best 9:00.18 in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase to finish 11th overall.
- Katie Dammer finished 15th in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, clocking 10:35.79. Her time was good enough for fourth place in the second heat of the event.
- In the women's 400-meter hurdles, Renee Newton finished second in the fourth heat with a time of 1:01.67, good enough for 18th overall.
UP NEXT
- The Hoyas will return to historic Franklin Field on Friday, April 29 for the 126th Penn Relays.
- On deck for Friday will be the men's and women's long jump at noon, followed by the women's and men's Championship of America distance medley relay (DMR), starting at 1:45 p.m. Later in the afternoon, the Hoyas will compete in the women's triple jump (4:30 p.m.) and men's 4x400-meter heats (6:30 p.m.).
- The Georgetown men total 26 COA wins with an impressive six DMR wheels.
- Of its seven COA wheels, the Georgetown women have previously won the COA DMR three times, most recently in 2016.
